ROCKPORT — Richard A. Gonsalves, Sr., 91, of Rockport, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 28, 2010 at the Seacoast Nursing home after a lengthy illness.
He was born in Gloucester on Feb. 19, 1919, son of Joseph F. Gonsalves and Mary (Alexander) Gonsalves. Mr. Gonsalves attended local schools then began a long career as a carpenter and construction supervisor. He was self-taught and leaned the trade through on-the-job training. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard which operated under the Department of the Navy during wartime. He served aboard the destroyer escort USS Merrill 392, named after an officer who went down with the Arizona, as a first class petty officer, damage control.
The Merrill and several other ships like her, escorted convoys across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, protecting them from enemy submarine and aircraft attacks. It was an extremely difficult task to carry out as these convoys, made up of 30 to 70 tankers and transports, were spread across 80 miles of ocean. On many occasions when the Merrill encountered German submarines, it was Richard's duty at his battle station, to set the gage on the depth chargers so they would explode at the most effective depth. The Merrill also took part in a successful raid on German submarine hideouts in Spanish Morocco, North Africa on March 7, 1944.
In October of 1945, Mr. Gonsalves was honorably discharged after serving in the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean theaters. He then went to work at the Rocky Neck Railways, repairing fishing boats, tugboats and recreation vessels before being hired by local contractors as a carpenter.
Over the next 40 years, Richard became a virtual master craftsman, who was able to handle all aspects of the trade such as putting up foundation forms, framing and shingling houses, doing finish work in addition to building and repairing many types of wooden boats. Later in his career, he became a supervisor for the construction of the Beverly Hospital Power Plant, Newburyport High School, Salem Power Plant renovations, Rockport Filtration Plant, and Hannah Elementary School in Beverly. After retiring from the trade in 1985, he worked part-time as a maintenance man at the Eastern Point Retreat House. Richard then retired permanently from that position in 2001.
For hobbies, Mr. Gonsalves enjoyed saltwater fishing and building model fishing schooners from actual plans. His favorite one though was a detailed model of the USS Merrill. He also followed high school, college, professional football, the Boston Bruins, and Boston Red Sox on television. Above all, he enjoyed watching historical documentaries. Richard had a great sense of humor which endeared him to all the people he met both in and out of his professional life. Richard too, was a great lover of dogs.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Yvonne (Luster) Gonsalves; and a son, Richard A. Gonsalves, Jr. of Gloucester. Mr. Gonsalves is predeceased by a son, Dana Gonsalves, who passed away in August of 2008.
A memorial service with military honors will be held Saturday, June 5, at 10 a.m. in the Calvary Cemetery. Friends and family members are invited to attend.